Belfast: US President Barack Obama arrived in Northern Ireland on Monday for the first day of the G8 summit and potentially vexatious talks on Syria with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Obama's Air Force One jet landed at Belfast International Airport outside the capital shortly after 8:35am (0735 GMT). He is due to give a speech in the city centre before meeting President Putin for talks.

Obama disembarked with his wife Michelle and their two daughters, transferring to a helicopter to fly to the smaller Belfast City Airport near the city centre.

Obama was heading to the Waterfront Hall conference centre to speak to an invited audience of 2,000 mostly young people, touching on Northern Ireland's peace process. He was to be greeted by Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and his deputy Martin McGuinness on his first visit to the province.